One of a Kind Collectible Signed by the Two Greatest Catalan Artists Frasers Autographs, a division of the Stanley Gibbons Group plc, announce the acquisition of rare collectible signed by the two greatest Catalan artists: Picasso and Casals
News-Antique.com - Oct 31,2011 - Fraser's Autographs, a division of the Stanley Gibbons Group plc has recently acquired a unique copy of the book 'Les Grands Interprètes: Pablo Casals' by Bernard Gavoty (Geneva: René Kister, 1955) featuring a Picasso sketch of the Catalan coat of arms depicting a dove and olive brand instead of the royal crown at the top of it, signed “VIVA en Pau Casals", with a note from Casals underneath reading, ‘Merci Picasso!’.
Casals has also signed his name on the opposite page under a dedication to ‘Au cher Lowenguth’ believed to be violinist Alfred Lowenguth of the Lowenguth Quartet.
The dove, which Picasso has placed atop the coat of arms, is very symbolic in his works having popularised the dove as a sign of peace in the post-war era when he published his lithograph "La Colombe" (The Dove) in 1949.
A year later, Picasso told the audience at the World Peace Congress that his father had taught him to paint doves as a child. The symbol of the dove and the ideals it stood for were summed up perfectly when Picasso said:
"I stand for life against death; I stand for peace against war."
Both Pablos were firm in their beliefs, with Picasso creating many anti-war paintings and expressing his anger and condemnation for Franco's regime, whilst Casals went so far as to boycott public performances to make his stand; being labelled "one of the voices of the world's conscience" by French Prime Minister Georges Bidault for his refusal to play in countries that recognised the authoritarian Spanish government.
The unique collectible is available through Frasers Autographs, London for £29,500.
